City gets T.O. traffic measure petitions

Initiative calls for public votes on developments

Supporters of a measure to control traffic and development in Thousand Oaks submitted petitions to the city on Monday with 15,542 signatures, more than enough to put the initiative on the June ballot, they say.

If approved by city voters, the Right to Vote on Traffic Congestion Initiative would require a public vote on every large development project that would worsen local traffic congestion.

City Clerk Linda Lawrence received the petitions Monday and began work to confirm the number of signatures.

&quot;After we've done that, we'll transport it to the county, which will verify the signatures,&quot; Lawrence said. &quot;They have 30 working days to do that, and once they've certified whether it is sufficient or not, they'll return it to the City Council.&quot;

City spokesman Andrew Powers said valid signatures of 10 percent of Thousand Oaks registered voters, or 6,909, are needed to put the initiative on the ballot in the next regular city election. He said 15 percent, or 10,364 valid signatures, would force the city to hold a special election.

The city could meet the special election requirement by placing it on the June ballot, coinciding with the regular state primary, said Harvey Englander, a campaign consultant working for the measure.

The two co-sponsors of the initiative, Thousand Oaks residents Nino DeFranco and Mojtaba Sedihgi, filed the petitions Monday along with environmental consultant Jim Aidukas, who has helped them.

&quot;We know voters now have a choice, and that's all we wanted, and to do what's best for the community,&quot; DeFranco said.

&quot;Everyone's concerned about traffic,&quot; said Aidukas, adding that it took only 30 days out of the 180 days allowed to collect the signatures. &quot;There's great support out there for the initiative, and this will put in the hands of the people control over what happens on city streets.&quot;

The initiative asks that voter approval be sought for any future retail or commercial development that exceeds 75,000 square feet and has a significant effect on local traffic.

It also requires voter approval for any future non-commercial or residential development of more than 100,000 square feet that has a significant effect on local traffic.

&quot;It's not asking for a ban on such developments,&quot; Aidukas said. &quot;It's asking that the people decide whether that project should go ahead and not just the City Council.&quot;

The Thousand Oaks Boulevard Association, a group of business and property owners along and near the boulevard, recently voted to oppose the initiative. The association's president, Cal Johnston, said the measure would stop &quot;dead in its tracks&quot; their effort to improve the area.

The signature-gathering effort followed the announcement that a Home Depot store was planned at the former Kmart site on Hampshire Road. It would be the second Home Depot in Thousand Oaks.